Police Should Not Use Uniforms During Off-Duty Periods

The Ghana Police Service, headed by the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan deserves commendation for the introduction of a new tag system recently. The new tag intends to instill professionalism in the police service, which will indeed help redeem the fast fading image of the police. This milestone chalked by the peace officers� administration if adhered to strictly, would enable the public to quickly name and shame suspected officers who may go contrary to the tenets of practice in the service. The IGP Mr. Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan has shown leadership qualities and this has informed the public that the police service is in a transition to offer services the populace have been denied of over the years. However, I would like to appeal to your office, Mr. Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan, to set out by-laws to help stop most officers who have taken the delight from putting on their uniforms when they are not on duty. This is a basic professional conduct violation as far as the international service duties are concerned. I have seen a number of the police officers, who are not on duty but put on their uniforms to queue at chop bars, trotro terminals, drinking bars, funeral grounds and other public places to be given preferential treatments. This is absolutely unprofessional. I am appealing to you, Mr. Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan, to take a look at my concerns and act accordingly. This cannot be countenanced in the developed countries and Ghana Police Service should be an exception. In the UK and UN Peace Keeping standards, officers change themselves in changing rooms after work, put on civilian clothes and this is what Ghana Police Service must emulate. For your information, Mr. Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan, I have been a very good friend to the Ghana Police Service dating back in the tenure of Nana Owusu Nsia as the Inspector General of Police. Former IGP Patrick Kwarteng Acheampong, DCOP Kofi Boakye and Dr. K.K. Marfo can all attest to this. I am the first Ghanaian to have made personal donation of computer and its accessories which would last for ten years to the Ghana Police Service at the cost of ten thousand pounds. I think the IGP, Mr. Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan can check my donations from the records at the National Headquarters in Accra in 2001. This is a clear example of my personal tenacity of ensuring a rapid growth of the police service. Again, I want to inform you that, the Ashanti Regional Commander, DCOP Augustine Gyening failed to provide me with the needed security support after reporting my insecurity to you. It would be recalled that, my article concerning the Mayor of Kumasi, Mr. Kojo Bonsu, branding the Kumasi metropolis with his portrait, attracted strange calls from supporters and families of the Mayor who attacked me for that article. I duly reported the matter to the regional police command for fear of my life. Unfortunately, the regional Commander has not provided me with security. And talking about security, while I was in the UK, I was provided with security by the Scotland Yard and Metro Victim Support in UK during the era of Rawlings, where my life was under continuous threat, and I expected same from the regional police command. I had asked the regional Commander to interrogate Kojo Bonsu and his family about their threats, and I wrote a letter of complaint to him but for close two months now he has failed to do the right thing expected of him. Maybe he wants the worst to happen before he acts. Mr. IGP, I want to humbly bring to your attention that I am the architect of Ghana�s democracy. It was through my singular but consistent pressure on the Western World that paved the way for Ghana to return to multi-party rule on 18th May 1992. Due to my background, the former Kufuor administration provided me with a 24 hour security escort when I returned home. This is what I am craving for because I am always a victim of threat right under Rawlings� PNDC regime up to date. Mr. Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan, you could please ask my background from your predecessors and other security capos like Mr. Francis Opoku, a National Security Coordinator and a former Director of BNI, Mr. Owusu Fordjour. Having appealed to your office and taking into consideration my contribution to the police service and Ghana�s democracy, Mr. Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan, you must act quickly since my security is always under threat whenever I publish an article on matters bordering on the state of the country. Long Live Ghana Police Service! Long Live Ghana Democratic Movement!! Alex Nana Asabre (Chairman Ghana Democratic Movement)